Cozy Sweater - Iron Horse Brewery

goatxpower

California

3.58/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

A- dark dark dark. very little head

S- Huge vanilla and chocolate milk aromas

T- taste doesn't quite live up to the smell. Little bit of roast. Prominent vanilla. Little hop bitterness. A little bit of sweetness, but I wish there was a little bit more. faint chocolate/mocha.

M- thinner then I like a stout with very little carbonation

D- all in all this beer is tastey and easy to drink, but I don't think that I would go out of my way to drink it again. They should do a bourbon-aged version.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2010 23:06:21 | More by goatxpower

HKUSPC40

Washington

4/5  rDev +12.4%

05-13-2013 08:44:11 | More by HKUSPC40

beertunes

Washington

3.25/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Served in straight pint glass. According to the brewery, this years version is 5.2% ABV. The poured a nearly solid black color with just under 1/2 inch of tan head that decent retention and lacing.

The aroma was pretty much what's expected, sweet malts, light grains and just a hint of hops. I seemed to pick up a nice bit of vanilla as well. The taste was also pretty typical, soft malts, a bit of grain and a touch of sweetness. The vanilla was a bit more notable on the tongue.

The body was nice, smooth and even, with just a bit of a sweet finish. Drinkability was good, you could easily have a few of these. Overall, a pretty solid beer. Nothing special or notable, but worth a shot if you see it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2013 00:15:53 | More by beertunes

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.95/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

GIft from a buddy. Opened on 1.5.13

A - Pours a very dark brown with a small dark tan head with good retention.

S - Lots of coffee and some vanilla. All pretty muted.

T - Creamy smooth chocolate, coffee and a nice touch of vanilla.

D - Low carbonation with a heavy body and a smooth creamy mouthfeel.

O - Nice chocolate, coffee, and vanilla. I was pleasantly surprised.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 06:02:53 | More by HuskyinPDX

Hopmodium

Washington

4/5  rDev +12.4%

01-14-2013 00:39:43 | More by Hopmodium

BeerNW

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

01-03-2013 18:57:04 | More by BeerNW

harrymel

Washington

1.93/5  rDev -45.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

So, I'm a little confused....I was told at the brewery this summer that this years edition was going to be a "gingerbread stout". This is not true. The beer is labeled as "vanilla milk stout"

2012 vintage.

Pours opaque near black with a rim of light tan foam. Pretty disinteresting look. Smells of vanilla and sweet milky lactose. A bit of toasted malts and a hint of leather. Tastes like a milk stout with too much lactose - makes me feel like a weird sort of bovine. Lots of vanilla flavor and a bit of coffee and seasoned skillet. Medium bodied with low carb and a numbing finish. Not a fan.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 07:20:42 | More by harrymel

adkieffer

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

10-05-2012 22:49:20 | More by adkieffer

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.45/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Review from 12/2010 notes. Poured into a Nostradamus flute glass. Pours a very dark brown; appears black. Thin light tan head leaves a thin ring and no lacing. Nice chocolate and coffee aroma. Thin bodied with a light chocolate, very light malt and nice vanilla flavor. Finishes astringent with lingering vanilla. Vanilla is nice, but not quite a memorable milk stout.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 04:17:00 | More by LiquidAmber

Mora2000

Texas

3.58/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to ericandersnavy for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a dark brown color with a tan head. The aroma is heavy on the chocolate and lactose, with some roasted malt and cream thrown in. The flavor is similar, with the chocolate and roasted malt standing out the most. There is also a cream-like character in the flavor. Thin to medium, sightly watery mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 19:43:35 | More by Mora2000

sharpski

Oregon

2.5/5  rDev -29.8%

02-15-2012 23:11:11 | More by sharpski

bespin15

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

01-01-2012 17:57:10 | More by bespin15

Bookseeb

Washington

3.1/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance is dark almost black holding up a moderate head that dissapates easily leaving sparse lace. Smell of coffee, raisons, roasted malt. Taste has the upfront dark roasted malt, dark fruits, coffee having a mild hop that makes it go down easy. Mouthfeel a little thin on the full side with mild carbonation. A little much on the roasted malt for me, could be more balanced to bring out other flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 03:14:32 | More by Bookseeb

beerandcycling88

Washington

3.33/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into a mug.

A pours a black color with an off white head.

S sweet milk chocolate with some vanilla ice cream.

T more sweet milk chocolate with a bit of vanilla ice cream. Along with a lactose note.

M very thin for a stout. A huge weakness.

Overall this is a pretty good milk stout. It's sweet but far too thin.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 23:26:23 | More by beerandcycling88

SirWilliam666

Washington

4/5  rDev +12.4%

12-13-2011 19:30:05 | More by SirWilliam666

Anew

Washington

5/5  rDev +40.4%

12-03-2011 22:22:44 | More by Anew

Exiled

Texas

4/5  rDev +12.4%

11-25-2011 02:10:40 | More by Exiled

beefandbean22

Washington

4/5  rDev +12.4%

11-23-2011 19:34:27 | More by beefandbean22

suncrust

Washington

3.83/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber poured to a snifter.

A- Thick black, dark coffee hue with a light eggshell colored head. Moderately sticky lacing that lasted throughout.

S- Nose of raisin, chocolate, burnt toast, roasted coffee and a little salted caramel. I was surprised at the saltiness of this smell, as well as the darkness. As it warmed I kept getting notes of mild smoke and charcoal, dark fruit, and finally some vanilla.

T- Dark coffee and roasted malt textures that finished with a mild sweetness and lactose in the back of the throat. Vanilla extract with roasted nuts (almonds). Taste overall had mostly a sweet milk chocolate character with a hint of raisin and a little cream.

MF- Texture at first was a bit like cocoa powder, with a thin but drinkable mouthfeel. Not as creamy as I would have liked for a milk stout. Very small amount of charred / burnt toast textures that lingered on the tongue. Dry, coffee like astringency in the finish.

O- One of the more balanced beers Iron Horse makes. Definitely less weird and much more straightforward. Pretty tasty, nice sweetness and malt balance. Not sure why people aren't liking this one more.

This beer would be awesome bolder though, maybe aged in oak?

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 03:13:09 | More by suncrust

doughanson78

Washington

3.88/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Black color. One and a half finger mocha head with great retention and awesome lacing.

S: Vanilla and lactose. Toasted malts. Chocolate and some light coffee. The vanilla is a touch off. Like a little cardboard smell.

T: Roasted malt upfront. Chocolate and vanilla. The vanilla has a much better flavor than the smell. Very milky finish.

M: Light body. Low carbonation. Slick. Good mouth coating.

O: A good milk stout. Not a huge fan of the style because of the light body, but this is definitely worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 02:33:49 | More by doughanson78

snaotheus

Washington

3.23/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle poured into a very large snifter

Pours with very little head, but it's dark brown, some slow active carbonation. Smells of chocolate and coffee. Roasted malts.

Taste is mild, and not very open, a little bit of sweetness, a little bit of roast malt bitterness, but overall fairly boring.

Mouthfeel is thin, very easy to drink beer.

I had this on tap a few weeks ago, and it was actually quite good. From the bottle, this is only mediocre.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2011 02:18:31 | More by snaotheus

chumba526

Oregon

4/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appears black color with a large light brown head.

It smells initially of creamy chocolate, smooth vanilla, sweet malts and coffee. It has a stereotypical milk stout smell besides the addition of vanilla.

It tastes much like it smells. Initially there is a semi-sweet milk chocolate smell. A smooth creamy natural vanilla flavor soon follows. The vanilla is very present but it is not overpowering. There are undertones of mild coffee and a semi sweet malt flavor. This is a bit sweet but it is not overpowering. Iron Horse did a fantastic job making the vanilla flavor present but not to overpowering. This is like a liquid dessert, though. A very good milk stout: not over the top and not overly sweet.

There is a moderate carbonation and a smooth creamy mouthfeel.

Drinkability is pretty good though due to the nature of the beer one would be good for me.

Overall a nice seasonal beer that has a bold flavor yet is not over the top.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 01:35:52 | More by chumba526

kytashie

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at McGlinns. I gotta say right up front that this beer was delicious! Came to me in a Deschutes pint glass. Thick brownish black (to be expected from a stout). 1/2 finger head that reminded me of whipped topping that was tannish colored. Smells strong of Vanilla with a roasted coffee background and a hint of chocolate. Taste was delicious! Right up front is vanilla that dissipated rather quickly with a faint finish of chocolate. I don't seem to be drinking a beer...more like a mocha with a hint that it's spiked, but no real alcohol presence or maltiness...which I guess would be expected for 4.5 ABV. Smooth & silky. This is a very drinkable beer, but I dinged it a bit cuz I was really thinking that this would be a stellar beer with a bourbon or more of an alcohol finish. It needs a bit of "sting". Enjoyable and pleasant dessert beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2011 19:13:32 | More by kytashie

OakedCanuck

Washington

2.85/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

22oz bottle. Nice extra from bespin15.

A - Dark brown to black. Very little head formation, even after a decently vigorous pour. What little there was, it was a yellow brown tinge.

S - Strong vanilla, some roasted coffee and distinct malt

T - The vanilla is the most prominent flavour, as expected. However, it is a chemically tasting vanilla, like they just poured some extract in. The lactic taste was okay but didn't quite mesh well with the vanilla and sugar sweetness. The malt had a nuttiness to it that was okay but the vanilla keeps coming back and dominating the palate.

M - Too thin, could be creamier, which is surprising for a milk/sweet stout. Soapy chemically vanilla aftertaste, meh.

D - It is easy enough to drink but that chemical vanilla is just too much sometimes. A great idea, but could have been executed better, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 16:45:14 | More by OakedCanuck

mtwentz

Washington

3.8/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

I've read that Iron Horse creates a new cozy sweater each year. this is for the 2010 vanilla milk stout.

I really enjoyed this beer, though it is/was my first sweet stout.
It pours think and stouty, nothing unfamiliar. I just poured a warm one from a 22. minimal head, if any, it quickly dissipated. leaves a thin halo of white/tan bubbles around my pint glass. Theres alot of vanilla smell, and a vague stickiness therein, right off the top. a vanilla caramel thing wafting out that I didn't notice off my first pour weeks ago. but now, i see that it smells fairly sweet. That sweet smell leads the sip. Tastes like vanilla milk, giving way to slight coffee tones and caramel malts I'd associate with a stout. Very drinkable. I've got a few stashed.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2010 05:47:05 | More by mtwentz